"I've already got mates, why do I need a therapist?" and other FAQ

Accessing therapy or coaching can feel uncomfortable for some people. Most of us grew up being told to 'harden up'. Australian culture prides itself on not whinging and 'just getting on with things', and some people feel like therapy goes against this. This could not be further from the truth!

Some of Strength Within's biggest 'success stories' were not sure they wanted help to begin with, but were prompted by a partner or the experience of a mate. They quickly realised that therapy and coaching are tools you can use to get the most out of life, just like how sometimes it's better to use a drill than a handheld screwdriver!

There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to therapy & coaching, especially if it's your first time. We've put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions to help you feel more comfortable in engaging with therapy or coaching, whether with Strength Within or with another provider.

Friends and family can be great supports, but sometimes we need to ask for professional help

"I am bothered by ______, and that situation can't change. So what's the point?"

There would not be a week in a therapist's career where they don't hear some version of this...

"My wife wanted me to come because I get so angry. But I'm angry because of how my boss treats me, you can't change that so what can you do?"

"I'm sad all the time because I worry about my kids with special needs. Of course I'm sad, any parent would be. What can therapy do about it?"

"I'm stuck in a job I hate and need to do for at least another two years. Nothing we say in this room can change that."

We cannot change the world outside the room. But we can change how you react to the world outside the room, and what steps you take to improve your own life.

"I already have mates, why should I tell a stranger my problems?"

This is probably the question our therapists hear the most - or sometimes not so much a 'question' as people hearing what we do for work and being told "I just talk to the missus" or similar!

If you've got people in your life that you rely on and confide in, that is wonderful! We'll encourage you to keep doing this while you see us. However, mates, partners, siblings etc might be great for listening - but there are limits to this. Either they will have a limit to how much they can handle - or you have a limit in how much you're willing to 'make it about you'. The beauty of therapy is that it is supposed to be 'all about you'. If a therapist is talking about themselves, something has gone wrong and you should feel free to call it out!

Therapy gives you a space that is solely for you - your experiences, your problems, your hopes and dreams. It is rare in life to be able to not consider the other person's feelings when we speak, but it's fine to do that in therapy!

"I've talked about this before and nothing changed, what's different about Strength Within?"

Good therapy is far more than just a 'sounding board'. A good therapist is able to help you see the parts of your reactions - maybe your thoughts, or behaviours - that aren't helping you to move forward. Mates are more likely to say "you've got every right to be angry, send that text!". A therapist is more likely to say "you've got every right to be angry! what might be the repercussion of sending that text?".

If you want to, we can also help you figure out why certain things make you furious when other people tend to not be bothered - or why you're not bothered by things that make other

people furious.

If you're experiencing a mental health condition - such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder - our clinical psychologists can treat these disorders using evidence based practices with high levels of positive outcomes. If you're interested in the science behind what we do, You can read more about the modalities we use and the evidence behind them HERE.

"It's hard to talk about the things that are bothering me..."

Clinical psychologists are trained in being able to help people articulate their thoughts, feelings and experiences - even if you find it hard to do it in day-to-day life, and even if you feel numb or unsure of what you feel. There are lots of topics people raise in therapy that are hard to discuss with those around them, these include:

• Interpersonal difficulties with family or friends

  • Therapy can be useful in those tricky situations where you need to talk about something to do with 'your person' - perhaps that person you normally tell everything to is not available due to a new job, or maybe your partner is the one causing you some difficult experiences.

  • Therapy is a safe space to process how you feel about the people closest to you, in a confidential and non-judgemental setting.

    
    

• Traumatic experiences

  • Many people who experience trauma do not like to talk about what happened or their feelings, both due to fear of upsetting others and due to how uncomfortable it makes them feel. Unfortunately, what the evidence tells us is that this sort of avoidance can make symptoms worse in the long term.

  • Our clinical psychologists are highly experienced in working with many forms of trauma, and can assist you to work through this at a pace that feels safe for you.

  • Our clinical psychologists are trained in four different types of trauma intervention - this allows us to tailor your treatment to what will best suit your needs, while still achieving positive outcomes.

  • More about the treatments we use can be found here.

    
    

• Difficulties with parenting/caring arrangements

  • When caring for your children, parents or others is the source of your distress, people can sometimes feel guilty about not being 'good enough'.

  • Caring for others is a common source of distress and can contribute to other mental health conditions

  • Our clinical psychologists can support you to function as best as possible during hard times, and give you space to share the 'uncomfortable' thoughts that come to parents and caregivers from time to time.

    
    

• Thoughts of suicide or self harm:

  • Many people have moments where they consider suicide or self harm as a possible option. This can be confronting and difficult to share with others.

  • Our clinical psychologists are able to work with you no matter where you are at, without judgement. When needed, our clinicians are trained in the SafeSide risk management framework - this focuses on coming up with a collaborative safety plan with the client, not overriding their wishes.

  • Many people worry that sharing these thoughts will lead to an inpatient stay at a hospital against their will. This is exceptionally rare, see below.

"If I'm totally honest, they'll lock me up!"

Many clients report worries that sharing their 'real' thoughts - for example, occasional thoughts of suicide, or how much they'd like to punch someone - will lead to an inpatient stay at a hospital, or worse. This is exceptionally rare and Australian law protects people from this occurring unless necessary.

While talking about these things might feel uncomfortable, we pride ourselves on taking the time for uncomfortable conversations.

Risk of harm to self

Veterans often struggle to translate their military experience into civilian terms. It’s essential to tailor your resume to highlight relevant skills and accomplishments. Consider using resources like Hire Heroes USA, which offers resume writing assistance and job search support.

Risk of suicide

Networking is crucial in the job search process. Attend job fairs, industry events, and networking meetups to connect with potential employers. Utilize platforms like LinkedIn to expand your professional network and showcase your skills.

Risk of harm to others

Several job boards cater specifically to veterans, such as Veterans Job Bank and Military.com. These platforms often feature employers actively seeking to hire veterans.

"Will I have to talk about things that make me uncomfortable?"

Therapy is unique place. You will never be made to say anything you don't want to say. However, we may work towards making you less uncomfortable with talking about certain things, at least in our therapeutic space.

This is because avoidance of a topic is often a sign that there is 'work to be done' in that space. This doesn't mean we will force you to talk about things you don't want to - instead we will work hard to create a safe environment where you feel comfortable to say anything you like.

When we first meet you, we will ask a lot of questions to help us ensure we're giving you the approach that is most suited to you. However, you can simply tell us you're not comfortable answering anything we ask. Therapy is a space for you - we will explain why we are asking things and if you don't want to engage with that topic, that is fine.

"What if I don't know what to say?"

Some people worry that therapy will be 'awkward' and they won't know what to say. Therapy is sometimes 'awkward' because we talk about things a lot of people prefer to avoid saying... but you never need to worry about 'doing it wrong' or 'not knowing what to say'. It is your psychologist's job to guide you through the process - they know 'what to ask' and how to support you to get the information they need to do their job.

After your first session, you will receive a follow up call or email to confirm you were comfortable with the therapeutic relationship and that you wish to go ahead with further sessions. There is no pressure to do so. Feeling safe with your therapist is one of the most important parts of good therapy, and we would rather you see someone else than have you not be able to be comfortable within our rooms.

A note from our founder:

Therapy can be hard... but nothing worth having comes easy.

Therapy can feel difficult - many people find it difficult to accept help from others. Therapy can be awkward - because it's uncomfortable to talk about the things we need to talk about to make progress. However, therapy can make a significant impact in your life, even if the 'problem' cannot be changed, and even if you find it hard to talk about what is going on.

Therapy can also be 'fun' when it needs to be, and many clients look forward to coming. Depending on what topics we're working on, some clients can dread coming but feel better afterwards - a bit like a gym session! We cannot guarantee you will feel 'good' all the time in therapy, but we can guarantee we're doing everything we can to help you feel better for the long term.

We pride ourselves on our ability to work with people 'where they're at', and move them forward. Even if therapy 'hasn't worked' for you before. Even if you 'don't even know where to start'. Even if you 'think it's all bullsh*t". We're here for you, when you're ready to take this next step.